8 Years of Happiness Report Card - Fulfilling a Firm Commitment Lu Shi-Yan's Last Policy Report in the Legislature

The Taichung City Council held its 4th term, 8th regular session today (28th), where Mayor Lu Shi-Yan led the city government team to deliver the comprehensive policy report. Lu Shi-Yan emphasized that the city government has always treated Taichung as a big family, with this sense of happiness truly reflected in population growth. Taichung's total population has reached nearly 2.87 million, not only setting a new historical high but also firmly ranking as the second-largest city in the nation. Facing her last policy report of her term, Mayor Lu set a sentimental tone, calling it an 'eight-year happiness report card,' and fulfilled her firm commitment to the broad public, 'two terms, eight years, doing well and fully.' She narrated the city government team's journey of turning the impossible into possible over the past eight years through 'eight chapters of happiness.'

Lu Shi-Yan stated that first, in terms of construction and transportation, she adhered to the principle of 'starting projects that cannot be started and completing those that cannot be completed,' laying the foundation for Taichung's next century of international construction and transportation. The city government team vigorously promoted three major indicator constructions, successfully creating the world-class landmark 'Taichung Green Beauty'; the 'Taichung International Exhibition Center,' which practices the vision of 'front store, back factory,' has grandly opened, driving a business opportunity of 65 billion yuan; while the 'Taichung Dome,' which has weathered storms, is steadily advancing towards completion. Not only that, another venue that can accommodate nearly 50,000 people, the 'Taichung Super Dome,' has also successfully selected a contractor. In the future, Taichung will simultaneously have large and small domes, playing a double multiplier effect, strongly driving the new era of 'Dome Economy.'

In addition to forward-looking international large-scale construction, to continue the historical splendor of the city, the city government, with the national monument 'Taichung State Government Building' as the core, promotes the regeneration of cultural assets. The total restoration budget is as high as 625 million yuan. The Cultural Bureau is expected to move in and start using it by the end of August this year, restoring the administrative hub status of the State Government Building in the old city area and injecting modern new vitality into cultural heritage preservation.

'If the road is open, the descendants will succeed.' Lu Shi-Yan pointed out that in terms of transportation construction, Taichung has officially entered the dual rapid transit era. Since the opening of the Green Line in 2021, passenger volume has continued to set new highs; the construction of the Blue Line is also steadily progressing, with electrical and mechanical engineering successfully tendered, and the civil engineering elevated section scheduled to start construction in August. In addition, the city government has successively opened up the delayed Dazhi Road for 13 years, promoted the resumption of work on the Dongfeng Expressway, and the Dadu and Meibridge and municipal road extension projects are also about to be opened to traffic; coupled with the nation's first 'Double Ten Bus,' reaching 1,800 stations for YouBike, as well as the completed Fengyuan Transfer Center and the Taichung and Shuangli Transfer Centers to be completed this year, creating a low-carbon, convenient, and all-directional urban transportation environment.

In promoting diverse sports, the city government team implemented the vision of 'Cool City, Cool Sports.' Not only did they successfully host the 2023 World Baseball Classic, but in 2024, they also led the nation in introducing the Red Bull Showrun F1 car street performance, attracting over 120,000 car enthusiasts and creating a tourism output value of 2.8 billion yuan, proving to the world Taichung's ability to host international events.

To meet the citizens' sports needs, the 'International Football Sports Leisure Park' subsidiary field has been certified by FIFA; the city government has also pioneered the 'National and Children's Sports Center.' Currently, there are 19 national and children's sports centers in operation and under construction across the city, with a total of more than 170 venues for sports venues and various community-type sports facilities, and the launch of an online sports map, fully creating a health city that is friendly to all ages.

To create a sustainable and livable environment, the city government has upgraded in all aspects from air quality improvement to housing justice. Through the 'Blue Sky and White Cloud Action Plan,' the average PM2.5 concentration in the first half of the year has been reduced to 14.3 micrograms, better than the national average; the number of 'Taichung Good Homes' has also increased to 14,500 households, ranking second in the nation. In optimizing public spaces, the 'Beautiful Land Plan' has established as many as 705 children's playgrounds, ranking first in the nation, and combined with the first 'Citizens' Picnic Day' to share greenery.

The city government is also actively upgrading basic infrastructure, not only promoting the improvement of old public toilets and the construction of new integrated administrative centers, but also investing nearly 7 billion yuan in funeral facilities over the past seven years, and even building the nation's first public pet life memorial park, extending life care to pets, and fully creating a warm and warm home.

In terms of social welfare and education, Lu Shi-Yan stated that citizens are family, and the depth of social welfare determines the temperature of a city. During her term, the city government listed education, science, and culture budgets as the top priority, starting from the 115th school year to expand the implementation of 'free nutritional lunches,' with the annual budget significantly increased to 4 billion yuan, benefiting 240,000 students; and launching the 'Growing Up With You' plan, completely replacing 150,000 sets of old junior high and elementary school desks and chairs.

To reduce the burden on young families, the number of public kindergartens in Taichung has increased from 5 to a 'tenfold increase' target of 52, and provides the cheapest fees among the six major cities; 'Good Pregnancy Special Cars' have been increased to 10,000 yuan. For senior citizens, not only has the old-age health insurance subsidy been fully restored, but the Elderly Love Heart Card has also introduced the highest monthly 1,000 points among the six major cities, taking care of the elderly and the weak with substantial policies.

In terms of revitalizing the local economy, in addition to driving the trillion yuan people's economy, the city government is also guarding the city's safety with an iron fist. The cumulative consumption registration total of the 'Taichung Shopping Festival' has exceeded the trillion yuan mark, coupled with the issuance of more than 2.5 million 'commodity adjustment vouchers,' successfully creating more than 500 million yuan in people's economic benefits. According to the latest statistics from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, the average disposable income per household in Taichung City has reached more than 1.17 million yuan, with a year-on-year growth rate of 4.91% ranking first among the six major cities, and citizens feel their pockets getting thicker.

In addition, the city government has built a comprehensive urban safety net. In addition to achieving a 100% clearance rate of violent crimes for seven consecutive years, it has also established the 'Eagle Eye Team' to quickly crack down on crimes; in response to the food safety issues that the public cares about, the city government adheres to the principle of 'strict rather than loose, and disclose wherever it is investigated,' and dares to fight for stricter standards from the central government, jointly inspect and heavily penalize violators, and guard the health of citizens with the most rigorous attitude.